How often are people able to get...

How often are people able to get near wild animals like these?

Actually, it happens all of the time as the sea lions beg for fish

scraps from fisherman casting lines of the rocks. Yet, it still took

photographer Kent Treptow four separate excursions, leaping rock to

rock with thousands of dollars worth of camera gear, before all of

the elements came together.

On the previous trips either the tide wasn’t low enough, people

weren’t on the jetty, sometimes the sea lions were a no-show, or the

light was just not right.

Lucky for Kent it all came together on Tuesday. Jeff Paulsrud, 12,

left, and Vinnie Giannini, 11, were on the end of the west Newport

jetty with these sea lions and he spotted the two checking out the

animals. He had to approach the animals slowly, and when he got close

enough he extended his arm out while holding the camera in hopes of

not spooking them away.

The sea lions did not seem to mind his presence and the kids

attention was diverted away from the camera and back to the lions;

giving this shot to Kent.

-- Steve McCrank, photo editor